Inflatable mannequin



"0a; 14, 1969 CHERRY ETAL 3,472;434

INFLATABLE MANNEQUIN Filed Oct. 24, 1968 INVENTORS NANCY REY CHERRYJUDITH ANN SHACKELFORI ATTORN E Y.

United States Patent O 4" 3,472,434 Patented Oct. 14, 1969 3,472,434INFLATABLE MANNEQUIN Nancy R. Cherry and Judith Ann Shackelford, both of11 E. 78th St., New York, N.Y. 10021 Filed Oct. 24, 1968, Ser. No.770,299 Int. Cl. A47f 8/00 U.S. Cl. 223-67 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE An inflatable mannequin of plastic sheet material shaped tosimulate the lower portion of the human torso below the waist adaptablefor use primarily in connection with commercial display of womanspantyhose. The form comprises integrally structured weighted meanspermitting stable placement thereof.

The present invention relates to plastic objects, and particularly to aspecific construction for an inflatable mannequin especially adapted foruse in displaying wo' mans pantyhose.

The inflatable mannequins of the present invention generally compriseresilient material which may be inflated to simulate the contour of aportion of the human anat orny. Articles of wearing apparal may beplaced upon the mannequin thereby to simulate their appearance when inactual use. At the present time, mannequins made of solid material aremost widely in use. However, inflatable mannequins comprise a potentialfor providing many significant advantageous features as compared withthe solid counterparts. In addition to being lighter in weight and mucheasier to transport, since they may be shipped in a deflated condition,inflatable mannequins may be repaired more simply and less expensivelythan solid mannequins. Also, inflatable mannequins may be dressed withfar less difiiculty since they are flexible and may be bent and deformedto permit the desired placement of wearing apparal thereon.

Although inflatable mannequins may comprise a potential for providingsignificant advantages over those made of solid materials, certaindifficulties relating to the manufacture thereof may be responsible forthe fact that they are not in more widespread use. Items such asinflatable mannequins must be capable of manufacture as simply andinexpensively as possible in order to provide potential for commercialsuccess because such items are generally limited as to the selling pricethat may potentially be damanded therefor. This limitation is made moreproblematic by the fact that such an item must also be of sufficientlysturdy construction to provide the intended function without rupturingor tearing or becoming otherwise unusable.

Accordingly, it is important that the structure and arrangement of suchan inflatable mannequin be effective to provide a sturdy item having thenecessary functional features while at the same time enablingmanufacture thereof simply and economically.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved inflatable mannequin featuring sturdiness and adaptability tocertain advantageous functional applications, while at the same timebeing capable of manufacture simply and economically.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such aninflatable mannequin which, by its inherent structural arrangement andthe method of manufacture enabled thereby, will withstand normal abusivewear and also may be sold at a competitively advantageous price.

Briefly, the present invention may be described as comprising speciallyshaped sheets of plastic material heat sealed along their edges in aparticular configuration providing an inflatable mannequin simulatingthe lower portion of the human torso below the waist. The mannequin ofthe present invention includes weight means to permit stable placementthereof, and valve means permitting infiation and deflation as desired.

A better understanding of the present invention may be had from thefollowing detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein: 7

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing the mannequin of the presentinvention in its assembled and inflated condition;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the mannequin of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view partially broken away taken along theline 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a composite view showing individual sheets of plasticmaterial which, when assembled, form the mannequin depicted in FIGURES 1and 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals representsimilar elements, there is shown an inflatable mannequin comprising aleft leg portion 10, a right leg portion 12 and an interconnecting waistportion 14. The left leg portion 10 is comprised of a sheet section 16and a sheet section 18. The right leg portion 12 is comprised of a sheetsection 20 and a sheet section 22. The waist portion 14 is comprised offour sheet sections 24, 26, 28 and 30.

The sheet sections which go to make up the inflatable mannequin of thepresent invention are shown individually and separately in compositeFIGURE 4. As seen therein, each sheet comprises a thin, flat piece ofplastic material cut to a patricular pattern suitable to allow assemblythereof in the particular manner and configuration set forth by thepresent invention. Each of the sheet sections depicted in FIGURE 4 isheat sealed to one or more other sections, in a manner to be hereinafterdescribed, and after assembly the mannequin may be inflated, by means ofa valve member 32 mounted in sheet section 24, to the condition depictedin FIGURES land 2.

The heat seal joints, whereby the sheet sections of the presentinvention are joined together may be formed in any suitable mannerapparent to those skilled in the art. The basis of the present inventionresides in the location of the heat seals and in the particular shapesof the sheet sections and the arrangement whereby they are assembled.

As shown in the drawing, sheet sections 26 and 28 are joined together bya heat seal joint 34 formed between the curved outer edge 36 of sheetsection 24 and the curved outer edge 38 of sheet section 26. Each sheetsection 24 and 26 has cut therethrough an oblong opening r defined,respectively, by continuous edges 40 and 42. Each of the sheet sections18 and 20 likewise comprises oblong openings defined, respectively, bycontinuous edges 44 and 46.

In assembly, the sheet section 18 is joined to the sheet section 24 by aheat seal joint 48 which unites edges 40 and 44. The sheet section 20 issimilarly joined to sheet section 26 by a heat seal joint 50 whichunites edges 42 and 46. In this manner the left and right leg portions10 and 12 are joined to the waist portion 14.

In order to complete formation of the left leg portion 10, sheet section16 is joined to sheet section 18 by a heat seal joint 52 which unitesthe outer edge 54 of section 16 to the outer edge 56 of section 18. In asimilar fashion, the right leg portion 12 is formed by joining sheetsection 20 to sheet section 22 by a heat seal joint 58 which unites theouter edge 60 of section 20 to the outer edge 62 of section 22.

Sheet section 24 comprises a straight outer edge 44 and sheet section 26comprises a straight outer edge 66 which generally define the waist ofthe mannequin of the present invention. When the sections 24 and 26 arejoined together as depicted in FIGURES 1 and 2, the edges 64 and 66 arejoined at their ends to form a generally circular configuration whichcorresponds to the outer edges 68 and 70 of sheet sections 28 and 36,respectively. In completing the assembly of the present invention, sheetsection 23 is joined to sheet sections 24 and 26 along a heat seal joint72 which is located a small distance from the edges 64 and 66. Thedistance from edges 64 and 66 at which joint 72 is formed is suflicientto allow space for a weighted plate 74 which is mounted between sheetsections 28 and 30. With sheet section 28 heat sealed to the assembly,and with the weighted plate 74 in place as shown, the sheet section 30is then heat sealed to sections 24 and 26 by a heat seal joint whichunites outer edge 70 with edges 64 and 66 thus completing the assemblyof the inflatable mannequin of the present invention.

It will be noted that the mannequin of the present invention is depictedin an inverted position. This is because in actual use the garmentswhich are intended for display therewith are usually displayed in theinverted position. Accordingly, the waist of the mannequin defined bysheet 30 may comprise a fiat pedestal or base upon which the mannequinmay rest. The weighted plate 74 provides means for firmly holding themannequin in the position shown in the drawing, while enabling easyrelocation thereof.

It will be apparent that the inflatable mannequin of the presentinvention will provide several important advantages over solidmannequins, particularly with regard to ease of applying theretogarments to be displayed. For example, it will be noted that the leftleg portion of the invention is in a bent position. In applying apantyhose garment to a mannequin similarly shaped it would be necessaryto stretch the waist portion of the garment so that it would pass theknee portion of the mannequin. Inasmuch as the diametrical dimension ofthe waist portion of the garment would be far smaller than the kneeportion, the garment must involve considerable stretch or it would beimpossible to apply to the mannequin. In the case of a solid mannequin,no garment which did not stretch sufiiciently could pass over the legportions 10 and 12 and the only alternative would be to construct themannequin in a two-piece, or multipiece, arrangement. On the other hand,the inflatable mannequin of the present invention may be resilientlydeformed with great ease to permit application thereto of almost anygarment, thereby overcoming the difl'iculties discussed above.

Other significant advantages relate to the fact that the mannequin ofthe invention involves a very light weight item which, when deflated,may be shipped and/ or stored 4 very easily and inexpensively comparedto heavier, larger volume mannequins.

As previously mentioned, the present invention is primarily adapted forutilization in displaying womans pantyhose and the specific embodimentdescribed herein therefore is configured to simulate the lower portionof the female anatomy. However, it is to be understood that otherapplications and uses may be made of similarly constructed inflatablemannequins which would be within the scope of the present invention. Forexample, the mannequin may be formed to simulate the lower portion ofthe anatomy of a child, with the specific simulation required beingdependent upon the nature of the specific item of wearing apparel to bedisplayed.

What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable mannequin simulating the human torso below the waistcomprising: a left leg portion, a right leg portion and a waist portion,said left and right leg portions each being formed from a pair ofplastic sheets, each of said pair of sheets having similarly shapedouter edges; heat seal means extending continuously completely alongsaid outer edges joining together each of said pair of sheets; one sheetin each of said pair comprising a continuous internal edge defining anopening through said sheet; said waist portion comprising a pair ofplastic sheets formed with similarly shaped outer edges, each of saidsheets having a continuous internal edge defining an openingtherethrough; heat seal means extending along a portion only of theouter edges of both said sheets joining said sheets together; a thirdplastic sheet having an outer edge shaped to coincide with the unsealedportions of said pair of waist portion plastic sheets; heat seal meansjoining said third plastic sheet to said unsealed portions of said pairof waist portion plastic sheets; heat seal means joining each of saidinternal edges of said right and left leg portions, respectively, to oneof said internal edges of said waist portion plastic sheets; and valvemeans enabling inflation and deflation of said mannequin.

2. An inflatable mannequin according to claim 1 comprising a weightedmember firmly mounted adjacent said third plastic sheet of said waistportion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,740,565 4/1956 Wells 223-673,082,920 3/1963 Stein et al 22367 3,319,848 5/1967 Wolf 22372 MERVINSTEIN, Primary Examiner G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.223-72

